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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(ModeL) W. P. KEBSON, APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SALE AND DELIVERY OF PREPAID ARTICLES. No. 360,160. Patented-Mar. 29, 1887.

W. Z I .m u m N. Pfl'ERi Pholv-Lilhogr lphor. Washington. D. c.

(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. P. KEESON.

APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SALE AND DELIVERY OF PREPAID ARTICLES.

Patented Mar. 29, 1887...

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iUNTTnn STATns PATENT FFICEQ TVILLIAM PHILIP KEESON, OF LONDON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC BOX COMPANY, (LIMITED,) OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SALE AND DELIVERY OF PREPAID ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,160, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed July 28, 1855. Serial No. 172 9.23.

(Modem Patented in England May 16, 1884, No. 7,836;

in Belgium September 26, 1885, No. 79,314; in Canada November 21, 1885. X0. 22,865; in Italy December 31, 1885, XIX, 15 ,191 XXXVIII, 70, and in Austria-Hungary November 24, 1886, No. 28,227 and No. 58,086.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM. PHILIP KEE- SON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 9 Loudoun Road, St. Johns \Vood,

London, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented Improvements in Apparatus for the Automatic Sale and Delivery of Prepaid Articles, (for which I have obtained British Patent No. 7,836, dated May 16, 1884; in

Canada, No. 22,865, dated November 21, 1885; in Belgium, No. 70,314, dated September 26, 1885; in Italy, XIX, 19,192, XXXVIII, 70, dated December 31,1885, and in Austria-Hungary, No. 28,227 and No. 58,086, dated Novemher 24, 1886,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the automatic sale and delivery ot'prepaid articles; and it consists in a small and compact box containing mechanism for the purpose of delivering, when desired, cigarettes, cigars, boxes of matches, packets, or other articles on the deposit in a slit or aperturein the box of a standard coin of such value only as may be required and determined beforehand as representing the value of such goods, such box being also adapted for storing the coins received.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an eleration of the apparatus with front and also A part of the revolving band removed. Fig. 2

is a plan of Fig. 1, having the front in position, but with the top of the box removed, and showing thesliding carriage and ejecting mech- 5 anism in a forward position and in the act of discharging an article, showing also in dotted lines the position of the coin at this time. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inner side of the front part of the apparatus, all parts being in their re normal position and the coin shown dotted, also showing two cross-scctional details. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 3 2, Fig. l,with top of box fitted thereto, showing an article partly pushed forward by the ejector, and also the mechanism for preventing the admission of coin to the apparatus when no further goods are contained therein.

Fig. 0 is a reduced plan view of the box with top and delivering mechanism removed, showing the spri ug O and its connection with the base-plate of the coin- 5o receptacle. Fig. 6 is a view of part of the traveling deliveringband, composed of tubular compartments, and the ratchet, pawl, and parts actuating the same. Fig. 7 is a plan of top of box, showing the aperture for the admission of coins. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail plan view showing mechanism hereinafter referred to. Fig. 9 is a plan of the sliding carriage shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are perspective detail views.

A is the box or casing inclosing the mechanism for containing and delivering the goods to be sold.

A A are compartments ofsuitable size and shape, but preferably tubular, as shown, for the reception of articles to be delivered.

B is an endless revolving band made up of these tubular compartments A A, which are hinged together, as shown.

C is an aperture in the box-front for the reception of goods.

D is a fiat or back valve placed over the aperture O 011 the inside to prevent tampering with the interior of the box for fraudulent or other purposes.

Eis an external sliding knob or trigger projccting through the box-front for actuating the internal mechanism, as hereinafter described.

F is a spring arranged longitudinally in the box-front, to which it is attached at one end, and always tending to draw the knob E and the parts connected therewith back to their normal position.

f is a rod or wire connecting the spring F with an internal sliding piece, G, forming part ofa clutch or projection, G, arranged in the box, but formed or connected with the external trigger, ll. In other words, the trigger E, clutch G, and connection G are formed in one piece or suitably connected to move together.

H is a second clutch-piece, actuated by the knob or trigger E and projection G only when a coin of the requisite size and value is introduced, so as to form a medium of action be- 5 tween the clutches G and H.

I is a slide supported in the box-front, and having at one end a projection, h, on which the clutch H is formed or mounted, said projection extending below and beyond the clutchpiece H, as shown.

h is an inclined plane, along which the projection h travels, and by which the clutch-piece H is forced in an outward direction toward the box-front, so as to allow the coin to pass over it at the right moment.

if is also an inclined plane, arranged above the lower plane, h, as a guide for the clutchpiece H when caused to. recede by the parts it and h.

h are two inclined surfaces acting as guides to the moving parts H h. I

h is a concave surface to guide the coin to the receptacle it. On the slide I is an upward projection, i, that engages with the under side of the clutch G, as shown in Fig. 3.

1 isa spring tending to return the slide I to its normal position.

J is a pawl pivoted to a projection, i, on the slide I, and arranged for actuating the roller of the revolving band B when the slide is moved forward.

K is a ratchet actuated by the pawl J and affixed to the end of the abovementioned roller for imparting a partial revolution to the endless band B. r

K is a roller carrying the other end of the band B.

k k are pins on the ratchet K for engaging the pawl.

L is a sliding bar for regulating the tension of the said band B.

M is alongitudinal projection formed on the inner side of the back of the box to support and guide the band B.

M is a similar projection upon the inner side of the front of the box for the same purpose.

N is a movable receding base-plate or wire frame provided to store the coins in an upright guides the edge of the coin that has previously passed along and over the clutch piece H against the ejection mechanism.

Qis a bentlever actuating the ejecting mechanism, and operated by the coin-clutches G H and external trigger, E, after such parts have partially revolved the endless band B.

Q is the elevator-arm of the bent lever Q.

R is a sliding carriage.

r is an ejector attached to the carriage B, and traveling along within the slotted compartment A, immediately beneath.

r is a rod upon which the carriage R slides.

S is an angular catch or stop affixed to the under side of the top of the box.

u is an aperture in the box-bottom for the return of rejected coins.

V is a shield affixed to the bent lever Q, and designed to cover the admission-aperture U during the egress of a piece of goods, or after the discharge of all the goods contained in the several traveling compartments A A. either by means of the hook T and pin d" or by means of the catch S and hook S.

W is a spring tending to return the lever Q, shield V, and carriage R to their normal positions.

, X is a lock at one end of the box.

Y represents the articles to be delivered.

Z is thecoin.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The coin Z is passed through the aperture U, Fig. 7, into the apparatus, and forms a connection between the clutch G and the clutch H, which connection does not exist except when a coin of proper size is introduced. The

clutch G is an internal part of the external trigger, E, and the clutch H is thus connected with the external trigger, E, by means of the also the clutch H and connected slide I, withits pawlJ. (ShowninFig.3andagaininareversed position in Fig. 6.) The pawl J engages with one of the pins 7c upon the ratchet K, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and also in Fig. 6, pushing it over a distance equal to the distance from center to center of any two compartments A A, and consequently partly rotating the band B, which, as before mentioned, is made up of a series of such compartments. time the forward motion imparted to the coin has caused the clutch H, Fig. 8, to travel laterally outward along the inclined plane h ,which oblique direction causes it to commence to move in front of the coin, this motion and direction being necessitated by the projection h, Figs. 6 and 8, traveling along the second and lower inclined plane, h, and further facilitated by the inclined surfaces dotted at h Fig. 8-. ()n a continued forward motion of the coin Z the clutch H is forced farther along the inclined plane h" until it passes entirely in front of the coin, and the lower edge of the coin is directed by the inclined and slightly-curved By this V surface of the part P, (shown in section at I P Fig. 8,) against the lower end of the shorter arm, Q, of the bent lever Q, forcing it backward, and thereby turning the bent lever upon its center, so that the longer arm, Q, carries the sliding carriage R and ejector 1- forward, as shown in Fig. 2, and discharges an article, as shown in Figs. 2 and at. During the pre vious operation the coin has assumed the position shown dotted in Fig. 2, where the sliding carriage It is shown in a forward position, the article Y having passed through its inelosing-compartment A,pushed open the flapvalve D, and found an exit through the aperture C in the front of the box. At the same moment that the clutch II recedes in front of and clears the edge of the coin Z, as described, the said clutch is instantly returned to its normal position, as in Fig. 3, by the action of the spring I, and in thus springing back it returns along the inclined plane h and in front of the coin, forcing it inward against the guide if and base-plate N of the storage-receptacle a. In order that no further coin may be admitted during the operation, the hook T is pivoted upon the sliding carriageRand catches upon the pin d on valve D. This can only occur while the valve D is held open by the outward-moving article. The pin cl is not the hinge-pin, but is placed slightly in front of it, and when the valve D closes, this pin d is out of the line of the hook T. In this position (shown in Fig. 2) the admissionaperture U is covered by the cover-plate or shield V. The article Y having been withdrawn, the valve D is closed by a suitable spring, (1 acting on it, and arranged beneath the projection M, Fig. 3. The closing valve releases the hook T and allows the spring IV to draw back the sliding carriage R and shield V to their normal position, ready for the next operation. The coin Z, thus forced forward by clutch H along the guide/i, is then held securely on edge against the springplate or frameN by the end of the leverarm Q. At each successive operation of the apparatus the coins are thus stored and held firmly on edge in the receptaele a between the spring base-plate or frame N and the inner side and end, Q, of the bent lever Q.

So long as any goods remain in the apparatus, the under side of the hook S travels or slides over the top of the goods in the coinpartment immediately beneath it, and is clear of the catch S, fixed to the under side of the top of the box; but as soon as the last article has been ejected the tail of the hook S falls into the compartment first emptied, and when the spring \V returns the ejection mechanism to its normal position the projection s of the hook S catches upon the stop S, and thus maintains the sliding carriageR and shield V in a forward position, permanently closing the aperture U, as shown in Fig. 2. Should any smaller coin than the one required be placed in the aperture U it will pass through the box and fall out at the aperture a,Fig.1,in the base of the box, provided for that purpose. The tubes forming the compartments A A may be advantageously drawn in the same manner as metal tubing. The tubes are linked or hinged together by means of a wire pin, as in Fig. 4.

It will be seen that each tubular compartment A is formed with a longitudinal slot or opening, to, extending nearly or quite its entire length, and terminating at one end with flared edges a,so as to enable the eject-or 1- to enter said compartments in succession. ejector r is attached in a downward-projecting position to the extreme rear end of the carriage B, so that when said carriage is at rest in its normal position the ejector will be in contact with the back of the box and disengaged from the traveling band",thus offering no obstruction to its forward movement under the action of the trigger E and intermediate connecting mechanism. Atthistime,also,thepivoted hook S is supported on the inclined projection S and is out of contact with the traveling band. W hen the carriage It is moved forward in the manner hereinbefore described, the ejector 1- enters one compartment to re move an article therefrom, while the hook S travels lightly over the surface of the article in the next succeeding compartment. After the ejector 2' has removed the last article from the apparatus, the pivoted hook .S drops into the compartment beneath, which was the first one emptied, and so is in position to engage the stop S on the return of the carriage R, and thereby hold the shield V in position beneath the aperture U, and prevent the further introduction of coin until the apparatus shall have been again filled, and thus made ready for further use.

In order to regulate the tension or tightness of the revolving band Bwith precision, I may fix the roller K upon a bar, L, capable of sliding horizontally in a recess formed in the back of the box, and having asuitable guide or guides, as shown in Fig. 1. In a convenient position I place a milled finger-piece, Z, upon a screw, Z Working in the fixed part M, and engaging with a projection on thesliding bar L, so that by simply turning the milled linger-piece the sliding bar L is moved horizontally and the tension of the revolving band B regulated with precision.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. I11 an apparatus for the automatic sale and delivery ofprepaid articles, the combination of an endless traveling band, B, composed ofa series of compartments having a hinged connection, rollers supporting said band, a ratchet, K, on one of said rollers, a slide, I, having a pawl, J, and clutch H, and a trigger, E, having clutch G, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the box A, having inclined planeshh on the inner side of its front, of the traveling band B, comprising compartments A A, rollers supporting said band, the ratchet K, slide I, having pawl J, projection 71, and clutch H, the trigger E,clutch The G, mounted on said trigger, and a coin, Z, to make connection between the clutches, sub stantially as described.

3. The combination of the box A, having inclined planes h h and inclined guiding-surfaces hi, the traveling bands B, comprising compartments A A, the slide I, having projection h, the pawl J, clutch H, trigger E, clutch G. and springs I F, substantially as described.

4:. The combination of the box A, having inclined flanges h h", inclined guiding-surfaces h it, and P, the base-plate N, spring 0, receptacle u, lever Q, clutches G H, and coin Z, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a traveling band comprising slotted compartments A A, ofan ejector mechanism consisting of the sliding cl, the traveling band composed of slotted coinpartments A A, the carriage R, having hook T, the lever Q Q, and shield V, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name 3c to this speeifi cation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. WILLIAM PHILIP KEESON. NVitnesses:

JOSEPH ORAWHALL CHAPMAN, HERBERT E. DALE. 

